Automatic inking fountain for printing presses



June 21, l1927; A. L. ENGEL 1,633,338

AUTOL-{ATC INKING FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTINGPRESSES Filed Oct. 5,'1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1l Junel 21 1927. A.' L LENGEL AUTOMATIC INKING FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTINGPRESSS F11-ed oct.

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Patented June 2l, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

y ALBERT L. LENGEL, OF'BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA AUTOMATIC INKING FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

Application filed lOctober 5, 1926. Serial No. 139,624.

My invention is an automatic inking fountain for printing presses and in the vmethod of inking for printing operations.

Anobject of my invention is the construction of an automatic inking fountainfor printingpresses in which the inkl is fed by a fountain roller, this roller taking the ink from what may be termed a pressure chamber in the ink fountain, therebeing a distinct and, separate air Voutlet onthe other side of thevfountain roller when same is in operation, and thus preventing the so-called boiling of the ink by the intermixture of air bubbles therewith conveyed to the ink by the fountain roller.

Another object of my invent-ion is the construction and mounting of an adjustable fountain blade at the discharge end of the pressure chamber. This bladeris adjusted Jy a plurality of alinement keys for initial adjustment and a plurality of service keys which actuate the alincinent keys in order to give an accurate and variedcontrol of the amount of ink required for different classes of printing. Y f f Another object of my invention is the construction of a. hard surfaced fountain roll with a surfacing construction whereby part of the roll functions tolift or carry the ink to the transfer roll and another portion of the surface of the fountainroll functions to convey the excess ink back from the transfer roller to the ink fountain. f

Another object of my invention is the pro- ;55 vision of packing'felts or the like in the ink fountain at each end ofthe fountain roller, preventing flow of ink on the end of the roller.

Another object of my invention isin installing a bridge in an automatic ink fountain7 this bridge being connectedV to the fountain in a stationary manner and forming the pressure chamber in connection with the fountain roll for feeding ink and having the fountain blade with the alinement and servi'ce keys connected thereto. y

In constructing my invention I utilize a ink fountain with a fountain roller mounted to rotate with the lower portion dipping into the ink. One side of the fountain adjacent the roller is concentric there vitli with a narrow passage therebetween. The bridge securedin the fountain on the other side of the roller has a concave surface concentric with the roller and with ink passages adjacent the bottom of tbe fountain to the lower end of the'pressure chamber formed between the face of the bridge and the roller. A separate box` having the fountain blade, the alinement and service keys is mounted on top of the bridge and allows further adjustment of the fountain blade. Y

In connection with the feature of the fountain rollers, I use a hard surfaced roller with a series of inillings which cut the surface slightly below the smooth external periphery and thus form a series of depressions .y

in an otherwise smooth faced roll. These depressions act'to pick up the ink and convey it to a transfer rollerand the smooth surfaces carry back the excess of ink from the transferl roller tor the ink fountain. vI find it desirable to form the millings making i lengthwise grooves or depressions in the fountain Vroller land with the slight individual corrugations formed in the millings extending in a circumferential direction. y

My invention willl be more readily under# stood from the following description and drawings, in which; y f

Figure l is a perspective (view of an ink fountain with the roll and other features of my invention installed, this giving an external view;

Fig. 2 is a plan view with part of thekeyboard box in section;

Fig. 3 'is avertical transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of Fig. Son the line 4 4 in the direction of the Y arrows;

Fig. 5 is a detail view, showing on an enlarged scale the type of depressions formed in the fountain roll.

In the drawings, an ink kfountain is desig-r nated generally by the numeral l, having a base 2 secured toa suitable supporting structure 3. The forward wall 4 of the fountain is curved, the inner surface being concentric to the' periphery of the fountain roller 5, this roller being mounted on suitable journals 6 on the fountain. The rear wall 7 Hof the fountain is preferably vertical as is the usual construction, as are also the end walls 8. A

The bridge for forming the pressure chamber is constructed substantially as follows,

having reference particularly to Figs. 3 and l, such bridge being designated generally by the numeral 9.

This structure has a. plurality of transverse walls 10 and a front curved wall 11. The curvature of the front surface of this wall is concentric iwith the fountain roll and a series of openings 12 in the base of the front wall allow the flow of ink to the front surface of such wall. A top wall 13 eXteinls lengthwise of the bridge. Adjusting bolts 14C are secured to pins 15 or the like connected to the walls 10 and by means of adjustment nuts 16 in theI rear wall 7 of the fountain allow positioning of the bridge at regulatable distances from the surface of the fountain roll.

The keyboard box and the fountain blade construction are substantially as follows:

Thisbox is designated generally by the numeral 17 and has a channel shaped box structure forming the base and a cover or lid 19. The base is secured to the top wall 13 of th-e bridge by bolts 2O or the like and carries a fountain blade 21 of flexible metal secured to the front lower edge of the channel by counter-sunk screws 22 or the like.

A series of alinement keys 23 are extended through the front and rear walls 24 and 25 of the channel typ-e of bOX, being threaded preferably at their forward end and havine square or other shaped key connections at their rear ends. These keys press on the back of the fountain blade as clearly shown in Fig. 3 and allow the adjustment of same at variable regulated distances from the fountain roller.

The service keys are indicated generally by the numeral 26 and comprise a series of levers 27'eaeh of such levers having a split lower end with a bolt therethrough indicated by the numeral 23. allowing` clamping to the stem of the alinement keys. The upper ends 29 of such levers are preferably bifurcated and attached to the key rods 30 by pins with cotter pins or the like through each end. These rods vare formed L-shaped having th-e handle end 31 extending through the opposite ends 32 of the keyboard box 17. There are preferably an upper and a lower set of apertures 33 and 34 through which the handles extend. The handles may be provided with notches 35 if desired to engage the edges of the apertures. On account of the large number of alinement keys required7 it is desirable to have the service keys staggered and to have the keys connected to the alinement keys adjacent the ends of the keyboard boX, passed through the lower apertures and the handles of the other service keys passed through the upper apertures.

The construction of the fountain roll is substantially as follows, having reference particularly to Figs. l, 2, 3 and 5:

l fountain for presses is substantially This roll is formed with an outer peripheral surface 36 which is smooth and with a series of depressions 37 which extend lengthwise of the roll. The number of these depressions and their width considered circumferentially of a roll may vary in proportion to the smooth portion 36 of the roll, depending onthe type of work to be done. These depressions are preferably formed by milling the roll and the slight corrugations 3S formed by the milling extend in a circumferent-ial direction. The transfer roller is indicated by the numeral 39, but does not form a feature of my present invention. It is to be understood that the ink may be conveyed from the fountainv roller in any desired manner. f f Y The operation of my automatic inking lows:

It will be understood that the kinking roller may be ldriven in any suitable manner and rotates in the direction of the arrow l0 as shown in Fig. 3. The ink which is of varied consistency according to whether black or colored inks are used flows freely inthe fountain through the openings 12 and when the fountain roll is stationary fills what may be called the air chamber 41 on the side of the roll adjacent the wall 4t and vwhat may be termed the pressure chamber l2 adjacent the front wall 11 of the bridge. Vhen, however, the roll is rotated in direction indicated7 on account ofthe ink being drawn by the surface of the roll, the air chamber 411 is substantially cleared of ink and ink is forced upwardly und-er pressure in the pressure chamber 42 between the periphery of the roll and the forward surface of the wall 11 of the bridge. The fountain blade being adjustable allows only the desired film ofink to be conveyed by the roll and also functions to aid in maintaining the pressure in the pressure chamber.y

` A certain amount of air is carried by the fountain roller into the ink and air bubbles are formed *therein7 which bubbles have free exit through the air chamberfll between the wall l and the periphery of tie roller 5, thus preventing so-called boiling or churning' of the ink and maintaining saine substantially free of air bubbles, both in the body of the fountain and in the ink being carried upwardly in the pressure chamber to the transfer roller.

The alinement keys are preferably adjusted by a suitable key wrench or the like until the fountain blade is secured in the desired position for printing, a position which is usuallypredetermined before the press isoperated. lVhen it is desired to make additional adjustments by the service keys, these keys may be manually operated by actuating the handles to either tighten` or loosen the alinement keys and it is obvious by the conlll() l of my recess fountain roller is substantially as follows;

It is to be understood that the longitudinal depressions 37 pick up a greater amount of ink than the external smooth surfaces 36. The ink in the depressions is transferred to the transfer roller which roller is continuously conveying ink tothe various parts of the press leading to the printing roll and is continuously conveying ink backwardly to the fountain. This surplus ink isV taken off the transfer roller by the smooth surfacesv k36 and reconveyed to the fountain, this o peration being continuous andA therefore allowing the proper transference of ink from the fountain and the carrying of the surplus vink back to the fountain.

V rThe ink being transferred back from the transfer roller 39 bythe fountain roller to the fountain takes the surplus ink from the transfer roller, which hasnct been communicated onto other rollers or the like of the printing press,back to the fountain and such ink is reworked and again used. Otherwise if this ink were not carried back to the fountain by the fountain roller adding more :ink to the transfer roller this transfer roller would be carrying more ink than can be utilized.V i

It will be seen therefore regarding my invention as a whole, that I have provided a method and means of conveying ink froma fountain, such ink being subjected to presysure'in a pressure chamber and the flow being regulated by a fountain blade, this hav-y ing two types of devices for securing alinement and adjustment, also that yI control the transference of ink from the fountain through the recessed fountain roller to a transfer roller and the surplus ink back to the fountain. y. i

It is apparent that my invention maybe considerably changed in general features or specific details to adapt same to different types of installations used in the printing art. Such changes however, would be within the spirit of my invention as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l. An inking fountain comprising incombination a fountain, a fountain roller mounted therein, and a structure forming a pressure chamber on one side of the roller, there being ink passages'at thebase of said cham- `being ink passages into the lower portion of said chamber, a fountain blade at the upper portion of the chamber and means to' adjust the fountainblade and there being an unobstructed passage underneath the roller from thek pressure chamber and on the side opposite such pressure chamber. r

3. An ink fountain comprising in combination a fountain, a fountain roller journaled tordip therein, a structure forming a narrow passage at one portion of the roller to-forin an air passage, a structure forming a passage 4at anotherportionv of the roller-to form a pressure chamber, there being passages for'ink into the lower endlof the pressure chamber passage and there being an `unobstructed passage vunder the roller between the air passage and the pressure chamber.

4. An ink fountain construction comprising -in combination a fountain, a fountain roller journaled to dip therein, a bridge in the fountain having a surface concentric with. the roller and lspaced slightly there- V- from to form a pressure chamber. and there being passages for inkat vthe base of the bridge and `there being an unobstructed passage lunderneath the roller from the pressure chamber and on'the side opposite such pressure chamber.

. 5. An ink fountain construction comprising in combination a fountain, a fountain roller ljournaled tov dip therein, one side of the fountain beingy concentric' to the roller and spaced slightly therefrom` forming an `air duct or passage when the roll rotates,

a bridge, said 'bridge having a Wall concentric to the roller forming a pressure chamber passage between same and the roller, there being ink passagesv at the base of the said Wall, al fountain blade mounted on the upperA f portion of the'bridge, and a series of threaded alinement" keys operating said fountain vblade and there being an unobstructed passage under the roller between the air passage and the pressure chamber.

6. kAn ink fountain construction as claimed in claim 5, the bridge and the fountain having interconnecting means to adjust the bridge relative to the fountain roller to vary the pressure chamber passage between the bridge and the fountain roller.

7 An ink fountain construction as claimed in claim 5, a series .of service keys having ylevers connected to the alinement keys and key rods connected to the levers, said key rods extending longitudinally of the fountain blade. y

8. An ink fountain structure comprising in combination an ink fountain, a fountain roller journaled to dip therein, the fountain having a surface concentric to the roller and spaced a slight distance therefrom to form an air passage, abridge adjustably mounted in the fountain having a front wall concentric to the roller forming a pressure passage, and there being inlets for ink at the base of said wall, a fountain bla'de, and a series of threaded alinement keys transversely of the blade positioned to actuate same.

9. An ink fountain structure as claimed in claim 8, having a series of service keys, each key having a lever, means clamping each lever to an alinement key, yL-shaped key rods connected to said levers, and a key box structure having a plurality of apertures in the end through which the lsaid key rods extend.

10. An ink fountain construction comprising in combination a fountain, a fountain roller journaled to dip therein, said roller having a series of smooth surfaces alternately with a series of depressed or recessed surfaces extending lengthwise of the roll, a bridge adjustably mounted having a front wall concentric with the roll to form a pressure passage, there being ink inlets to said passage at the base of the wall, and a fountain blade positioned above the bridge with means to control said blade.

11. An ink fountain construction as claimed in claim 10, the fountain having an inner surface concentric with the fountain roll opposite the bridge to form a passage between same and the roll for outlet of air when the roll is in operation.

12. A fountain roll having a series of smooth surfaces and depressed surfaces alternating and extending lengthwise of the roll, the depressed surfaces having a series of millings therein to aid takingup ink.

13. A fountain roll having a series of smooth surfaces on its peripheryrand a series of depressed surfaces alternating around the periphery of the roll, the smooth surfaces and depressed surfaces extendingv lengthwise of the roll, the l.depressed surfaces having a series of millings running in a circumferential direction to aid taking up ink.

14. The method of inking, comprising rotating a fountain roll to dip in an ink fountain, and establishing a pressure on the ink being fed from the fountain.

15. vThe method of inking, comprising taking up ink in a fountain-by rotating a fountain roller to dip therein, exerting pressure on the ink at one portion of the roller in the fountain, and allowing escapel of air adjacent the other portion of the roller in the fountain.

16. The method of inking, comprising taking up ink Vby a rotating fountain. roller dipping in a fountain,.exerting a pressure on the ink being fed adjacent one portion of the roller, regulating said. pressure and allowing escape of air adjacent the opposite portion of the roller inthe fountain.

1.7. The method of in ring, comprising taking up ink in depressed portions of a fountain roller, transferring some of said ink to the transfer roller and retransferring ink back from the transfer roller on smooth portions of the fountain roller.'

1S. An ink fountain construction, as claimed in claim t, a structure having a fountain blade secured to the top of the bridge', a series of transverseV alignmentkeys threaded in said structure to actuate said blade, a series of'service keys, and means connecting same to the alignn'ient'keys, said service keys extending longitudinally of the blade holding structure and being adapted to turn the alignment keys.

19. In an ink fountain construction the combination of a fountain roller, a bridge having a curved wall spaced from said roller effecting a pressure chamber, a flexible blade mounted on the bridge and bearing againstsaid roller, a box like structure mounted on the bridge having a series of alignment keys screw threaded in the box and adjustable to bear against the blade, a lever connectedto each or the keys, and service keys attached to'said levers and extending longitudinally through the box and through one end, said levers being slidable to partly rotate the alignmentkeys.

20. An ink fountain construction comprising in combination a fountain roller, a bridge having a curved wall, means to adjust the bridge to and from said roller, the curved wall being concentric to the roller,

fa box like structuure and a flexible blade mounted on the bridge, a plurality of alignment keys screw threaded in the box and extending transversely therethrough to press the blade against the roller, a. lever attached to each key, a service key attached to each lever and extending longitudinally through the box, said service keys partly rotating the alignment keys to adjust'the blade.

2l. In an ink fountain construction the vcombination of a fountain having a curved forward wall, a fountain roller Vconcentric tov said wall, a bridge extending longitudinally of the fountain and having a curved front wall, said front wall being concentricto the fountain roll, means to adjust the bridge relative yto the roll, the space between the said curved wall and the roll forming a pressure chamber, there being an air passage between the roll and the forward wall of the fountain, an unobstructed passageV below the roll between the pressure chamber and said 'air passage, aHeXible blade mounted on the bridge bearing against the roll, and means to adjust the pressure of the blade.

22. In an inlring fountain the combination ofa fountain structure7 a fountain roll dipping therein, a wall structure in the fountain, means to move said wall structure to and from the roll, said wall structure and the roll forming a pressure chamber, and a passage from the fountain at the lower part of the wall to the pressure chamber.

23. In an inking fountain the combination of a fountain structure, a fountain'roll dipping therein, a bridge having a curved wall, said wall extending downwardly into the fountain and following the curve of the roll7 means to adjust the bridge and the wall to and from the roll to form a pressure chamber and vary the size of said chamber, and means forming a passao'e for ink at the lower part of said wall between the fountain andthe pressure chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. v

y ALBERT L LENGELg 

